You have been sick twice during your two absences from the pro-admin and pro-BBM Alyansa sorties. If this is true, how did you manage to immediately shoot a political ad with VP Sara when you knew that she does not like the ICC arrest of her father, former president Digong, but was permitted by the current leader? According to pundits, it would be better for Villar not to sail on two boats on the issue of the ICC arrest for trying hard to get more votes from both the pro-BBM and pro-Duterte people. Is that true?
On the same issue of Duterte’s ICC arrest, we are to observe “amity with all nations”, Cayetano. Your brother, former foreign affairs secretary and now Senator Allan, knows this for sure. And you know this for sure, too. That’s what the Constitution says, in addition to the recent Supreme Court decision that tells us, among other things, that while the Philippine withdrawal of ICC membership is valid, the SC also declared that the country is still obliged to cooperate in criminal proceedings of the ICC. Now, another very recent SC decision was about its rejection to the petition to stop the government from further cooperating with the ICC, which ordered Duterte’s arrest. Your brother had been known as a foreign minister for some time, but had not been known as an international law expert. Why do lawyers like him in the Philippines turn a deaf ear to the honorable, impartial views of international law experts? Maybe he could not leave behind his strong bond with Digong when he partnered with him as his losing 2016 running mate rather than bonding with grieving families of thousands of EJK victims during the height of the previous administration’s bloody but failed war on drugs? Maybe you, Cayetanos, are not talking to each other about justice for EJK victims, as there is an unmistakable conflict because you are running under Alyansa, supported by BBM, who already has a riotous rift with the Dutertes. Correct?
Villar, you reaffirmed your strong commitment to support education and other sectors, according to your press release, which was carried by some media outlets. How many pages of EDCOM 2’s Year One Report and how many pages of its Year Two Report have you read? Did you read printouts or the PDF? Did you contact them to clarify their evidence-based recommendations? You and your supporters say there is something new with Camella, oops, Camille, but there is nothing new in your interaction with the education sector. Nothing tangible will happen, and it seems that the Villars’ projects in education are pambubudol, but we know that EDCOM 2 itself reported that there is a learning crisis. This, despite your family’s long tenure in elective positions. Care to comment?
Cayetano, did you read the EDCOM 2 Year One and Year Two reports in PDF or printouts? Aba’y lusot ang mga pahinang puro Cayetano. Kagaling naman. EDCOM na iyan ha? Did you read their evidence-based recommendations or just your staff? Is there anything you disagree with in their poignant advice? Will anything change if you continue as a legislator for a long time? Since quality education long ago, we have had a learning crisis. Doesn’t that have anything to do with the type of people who continue to hold positions in government? Like you, people cry, “That’s Senator Pia again, and so someone else is needed to change things and address the learning crisis with the help of new and effective senators.”
Villar, you intend to expand the PhilHealth coverage, but in the meantime, you have seen its zero subsidy and the return of 60 billion pesos to the National Treasury. What an irony! What can you promise to speed up your support for public health using PhilHealth? Or maybe what you are rushing is the return of the budget back to PhilHealth? Take the chance to call on PhilHealth or clarify to the people whether you supported or are supporting the zero subsidy of PhilHealth? It is quite clear that you got the ticket to ride with Marcos and another with the veep Duterte. Malabong malinaw. Hello, Primewater?
As Finance Committee Senior Vice-Chair on the budget of the health sector, Cayetano felt satisfied with PhilHealth’s budget allocation. Or not? Did it get the crucial funding honestly meant for PhilHealth members’ welfare? How can you ease the concerns of many of its members who are confused about the state of PhilHealth when it is so a big deal that they did not have it as a problem in the first place, because every quincena and every 30th, they remit their payments religiously to PhilHealth? You were also criticizing PhilHealth. Right? Where is the concrete action from your finance committee?
Villar, is it not easier for a businessman politician to get involved in public works? Healthy competition in business is being hampered because politicians are also businessmen. Please refute that idea. Netizens keep on saying that your family is quick to act on infrastructure projects because your family-owned companies and the Villars’ partner companies will also profit from them big time.
Cayetano, why are you not recognized for fighting corruption? And as to the feisty Senator Risa Hontiveros’ legitimate question about this one burning issue: the cauldron construction c/o your brother, who led the Philippines in hosting the SEA games a few years ago? Please explain why it is unfair to explain that kaldero project is worth P50 million. It is said that its construction served as a symbol of the Duterte administration’s thrust of giving value and importance to our Filipino athletes and sports programs, but why was it not maintained? May you help your brother in explaining the issue of the project’s operation and maintenance?
DC Alviar
Professor DC Alviar serves as a member of the steering committee of the Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO). He was part of National University’s community extension project that imparted the five disciplines of a learning organization (Senge, 1990) to communities in a local government unit. He writes and edits local reports for Mega Scene. He graduated with a master’s degree in development communication from the University of the Philippines Open University in Los Baños. He recently defended a dissertation proposal for his doctorate degree in communication at the same graduate school under a Philippine government scholarship grant. He was editor-in-chief of his high school paper Ang Ugat and the Adamson News.
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- DC Alviar#molongui-disabled-link
- DC Alviar#molongui-disabled-link
- DC Alviar#molongui-disabled-link
